8 years on, Harirod bridge still incomplete in Ghor

FIROZKOH (Pajhwok): Construction of a bridge over the Harirod River in Lal wa Sarjangal district of western Ghor province has not been completed even eight years after initiation, thanks to government apathy, local residents said on Tuesday.

The bridge on the Ghor-Kabul highway is located in Dahan Qolani area of the district and its construction was started eight years ago.

Local residents say passengers face many problems on the route in rainy seasons when water level rises in the river.

They say the bridge is a vital connection point between Kabul and Ghor and its incompletion has created many problems for commuters.

Azizullah Mahdi, a resident of the Lal wa Sarjangal district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that passengers and local residents had to face many problems while traveling on the road in spring when water rises in the Harirod River.

He said blamed the delay in the bridge’s construction on incompetence of Wolesi Jirga or lower house members from Ghr province and the provincial council as well as rivalry among them.

Haidar Khairkhaw, a civil society activist in Lal wa Sarjangal district, also complained about government’s apathy and said the government usually left major projects incomplete.

“Both the central and local governments leave fundamental projects incomplete in Ghor and they do not care about them, it is shameful when the government cannot complete a bridge in eight years, this bridge would open an economic gate to Ghor and solve many problems of people,” he said.

Abdul Khaliq, a mini bus driver on Ghor-Kabul highway, said drivers usually faced great troubles on the route in spring season.

“I have been plying this route since five years, when water rises in the river, cars almost drown in the water,” he said.

Farid Afghanyar, chief of the Lal was Sarjangal district, agreed with people’s complaints about the bridge and said they had shared the issue several times with officials concerned but they did not care.

Meanwhile, Zekirya Serat, spokesman of Ghor rural rehabilitation and development department, said that the bridge’s construction remained incomplete because the contracted company had escaped.

He said construction work on the bridge was launched eight years ago after a survey by his department, but the contracted company fled and left the work incomplete.

However, he said the issue had been shared with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) for finding a solution to it.